Aggie football takes field in season finale hoping to end on high note

Walker: 'I beg a lot. So I'll keep begging'

By Teddy Feinberg/tfeinberg@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
11/30/2012 04:09:13 PM MST

LAS CRUCES - The New Mexico State Aggie football season finale is a winnable one, a road game in San Marcos, Texas to play Texas State on Friday at 2 p.m.

With that, there's been other winnable games on the Aggies schedule, yet only one victory to show for it in 2012.

Contests against regional rivals UTEP and New Mexico both weren't captured, along with a home game against Texas-San Antonio - a program similar to Texas State in that it's a first-year FBS program with solid resources - ending in losing fashion. A road affair at Idaho was between two of the nation's worst teams, yet the Aggies fell short.

While NMSU is 1-10, the Bobcats are 3-8, giving up 34.0 points per game (a number that ranks fourth in the WAC, while the Aggies are fifth surrendering 37 PPG); While NMSU gives up just over 470 yards of total offense per game (No. 4 in conference) Texas State surrenders just over 490 (No. 6). Both teams give up over 200 yards rushing per contest as well.

"We practice with high intensity and we (play) with the same attitude," said NMSU linebacker Bryan Bonilla. "It's a WAC opponent. We feel like we have a good chance."

Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker said he's dedicating this game to the team's seniors and calling it the NMSU's bowl game. While the Aggies have had a disappointing year, the team still appears to have a relatively good attitude and hasn't given up on the next week's challenge.

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"It's the last football game of the year. It's our senior's last game. We don't have a conference win," Walker said. "And this is what I've been selling to the team: We're on a major losing streak. If you can't get fired up to give it your all, for one game, one win, then it is what it is. That's how we're approaching this game. I'm challenging these guys."

Texas State does have enormous potential - a school in fertile recruiting ground that appears to be an upstart going forward. Next year the Bobcats will leave the Western Athletic Conference to join the Sun Belt.

"Money. Investment. Planning. All that," Walker said when asked about school's such as Texas State and Texas-San Antonio gaining traction in their initial FBS seasons. "They made their minds up that they're going to have a football program. It's amazing. They've had a chance to prepare for a couple years before they had a chance to play in this conference. It's pretty amazing what that kind of attention, that you give, you're going to get some results .... They're just 3-8. But they're going to have a good football program."

Walker added the Aggies two biggest needs in the offseason were improving their strength and conditioning program and adding resources towards recruiting.

"Obviously I have a list. But those are two I want to jump on right away," Walker said.

"I beg a lot. So I'll keep begging until I get something."

As the Aggies enter the final weekend of their 2012 college football season, they'll try to go grab a win.

"Right now we want to send the seniors out with a win. Coach spread that message to us," Bonilla said. "It's been a tough year, it's been a long year."

Teddy Feinberg can be reached at (575) 541-5455. Follow him on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

Aggie Gameday

Who: New Mexico State (1-10 overall record, 0-5 in WAC) at Texas State (3-8 overall record, 1-4 in WAC)